Gallery Wall 101

Gallery Wall 101 | Frame Warehouse | 12 Convenient Locations

Gallery Wall 101, A Step By Step Guide To Building A Gallery Wall That Utilizes Your Space Best

Are you hung-up on how to hang up your framed art or photos? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Here at Frame Warehouse, some of the most common questions we’re asked are centered around how to display your art piece:

– Should you use an odd or even number of frames?
– Do they all have to match?
– What is the best way to arrange my art on the wall?

By surrounding yourself with framed images and artwork, you are putting the story of your life on display. From showcasing those who are most important to you to highlighting travels, the way you hang your artwork is important.

One of the most popular ways to showcase your framed art is a gallery wall. This type of display works well on any size wall and will create a gallery feel. Here are a few ways to arrange your gallery wall:

– Modern Grid: A grid consists of frames that are the same shape, size, and style. When planning a grid, you will evenly space your artwork using 2 – 4 frames horizontally. Next, add a row directly below the first line of frames, using the same spacing measurements as the first row. As space allows, continue adding rows. This gives your gallery wall a clean, modern feel.

– Mixed Grid: A mixed grid utilizes a grid pattern while mixing 2 different frame sizes. Use a larger frame for the top and bottom row, and a smaller frame-size for the middle row. This gives your gallery wall visual interest while maintaining a modern aesthetic.

– Organic Grid: Mix size, shape, and style in a defined area to create an organic shape. Place the frames vertically and horizontally, equal distances apart mimicking a heartbeat monitor. This creates visual interest, drawing your eyes up and down to each special piece.

Whether you opt for a modern, mixed, or an organic grid, be sure your treasured artwork is in a frame that will enhance it. Frame Warehouse has a large selection of frame styles that are perfect for your gallery wall. Best of all, with one-stop online ordering, creating a custom look for your home has never been easier! Visit https://framewarehouse.net and create your one-of-a-kind piece today!

Framing Tips For The 3 Most Popular Design Styles

Framing Tips For The 3 Most Popular Design Styles | Frame Warehouse

Design Styles that Fit the Frame!

Whether you are freshening up your décor or changing your entire design aesthetic, it is important to know some key elements of popular design styles. Accessories, including framed artwork, can make or break your style – but how do you know what frame to choose for your décor? Check out our tips for the 3 most popular design styles below:

Farmhouse Chic – Also referred to as rustic and refined, this design style is characterized by layering old with new, texture, and weathered wood. When choosing a frame for this design style, consider using wood frames like Frame Warehouse’s Light Brown Barnwood or Brown/Grey Barnwood. Mix in black frames to achieve the old with new and be sure to hang and lean your frames to achieve that layered look.

Minimalism – A minimalist design aesthetic emphasizes the notion that less is more and pays attention to function over form. For this reason, clean lines and grid patterns are essential and a gallery wall is a must. Some key elements to think about when choosing a frame for this style are quality, simplicity, white space, light wood, and some metallics. Frame Warehouse’s Blonde Maple is perfect for the organic feel of minimalist design, while the Stainless Silver is ideal for reflecting natural light. Customize your artwork with a white matte for that extra white space!

Maximalism – In complete contrast to minimalism, maximalism embraces the sentiment that more is more. Characterized by bright colors, patterns, eclectic furniture and textures, maximalism allows for everything that minimalism doesn’t. Often you will find colorful artwork framed in gold metallic next to an heirloom portrait framed in a chunky blue frame. When choosing frames for this style, think bold, colorful, and metallic. Frame Warehouse has several frames to choose from for this style including the 3 ½” Gold Ornate, Gold with Mahogany Panel, and frames in colors like blue, orange, and yellow.

No matter what your style, the trend in 2020 is quality. Invest in a custom frame that will preserve your artwork or family photo for a lifetime. Let the experts at Frame Warehouse help you choose just the right frame for your project and your design style! Already know what you need? Visit our online framing shop and get just the right frame sent to you in just a few clicks! Order now and get $5 shipping on all-ready-made frames and $10 shipping on custom framing!

Do I Really Need A Custom Frame?

Do I Really Need A Custom Frame? | Frame Warehouse | Charlotte, NC

Do I really need a custom frame? This is a question we hear a lot at Frame Warehouse. Honestly, the answer to that question is another question! What would you like to frame?

Ready-Made vs. Custom Framing

In order to determine whether custom framing is right for you, it’s beneficial to know the difference between ready-made and custom frames.

Ready-made frames are manufactured en masse, in standard sizes and come with basic frame, glass or acrylic, and backing. These can be a great solution for inexpensive prints, color-pops, or items you know you will change out regularly. We carry a great selection of high-quality, ready-made frames at Frame Warehouse, simply ask our experts and we can help you determine what’s right for you!

Custom framing is an option that is customized to your art piece, your décor, even size! From framing that treasured autographed jersey or military uniform to priceless works of art or your child’s handprint, we can (and have) frame it all. Custom framing involves choosing the frame, molding, matte, glass, and backing. With thousands of choices and combinations, our experts can advise you as to what will work best for your piece. For instance, will you be hanging your watercolor painting in a sunny area? You may want to choose UV protected glass to prevent fading. Are you framing an odd-sized, multi-dimensional sculpture? We can select a frame that will lend itself well to a shadow-box and build it according to your measurements. Best of all, we can turn most items around in under a week! While it’s true that custom framing can cost a little more when it comes to expensive artwork or unique memorabilia the value that custom framing provides lasts a lifetime.

Do you have a photo or piece of artwork you would like to preserve but are unsure of the best way to frame it? Drop by one of Frame Warehouse’s 12 framing locations in North and South Carolina and let our experts guide you!

Should I Hang or Should I Lean?

Should I Lean or Should I Hang? | Frame Warehouse | Charlotte NC

So, you received a fun print as a gift over the holidays and the pressure is on to find the right spot to display it in your home. Should you make the commitment and hang it up? Should you perch it on a shelf so it will “lean into” your décor? While there is no cut-and-dry answer, we have come up with a few tips that will help you decide!

Keeping it casual?
Is your home décor bohemian in nature or really casual? If so, leaning your artwork may be ideal for your aesthetic. Leaning your artwork provides great design opportunities for layering art with object and texture. Here are a few additional benefits to leaning:

– Leaning artwork lends to a casual, effortless look and is Instagram-chic
– Your artwork can be placed virtually anywhere there is a flat surface and a wall
– Requires no tools, or picture hanging strips and leaves your walls damage-free
– Can’t commit? No problem! Artwork can be changed around easily allowing you to refresh your look with ease
– Easily conceal unsightly vents, outlets, or dings in your home

Things to watch out for when leaning:

– Leaning can look cluttered or unfinished. Beware of leaning and layering art and objects of the same size as this can lead to a disorganized look rather than an art moment
– While you will not make holes in your wall, leaning an item in a high-traffic area can lead to marks on the wall or accidents. Choose your placement wisely!

Keeping it classy?
Do you prefer a cleaner look or have small children or pets? If so, forgo the leaning and hang it up! Hanging your artwork can elevate (pun intended!) your piece and adds to a clean, organized design style. Here are a few things to think about when deciding to hang artwork:

– Hanging your artwork is a commitment. You know you will be making a hole in the wall, so a great deal of planning is required. Your guests will appreciate the special moment a hung piece adds to your décor.
– Love gallery walls? Hanging is the only way to get the desired effect. Whether your style is formal or casual, a gallery wall is a beautiful way to display your treasured pieces.
– Use your tools! Plan where you want to hang your piece and measure twice! Use a level to ensure your artwork is straight. This is particularly important when creating a gallery wall!

Whether you are “leaning into” the lean or you are “hanging out” with the thought of hanging, Frame Warehouse can help you from frame to hang (or lean!) with custom framing, hanging tips and even the proper tools to display your artwork. Be sure to follow us on social media, and share how you have displayed your artwork! As always, stop by one of our 12 locations in North or South Carolina and get a custom frame for next to nothing!

Summer Memories

Frame Warehouse | Summer Memories | Charlotte NC

The early morning sunrise, the squeak of the brakes from the school bus and children squealing with excitement as they don just the right backpack for school…these are the sounds of summer fading into autumn. But, before you say goodbye, be sure to remember the days between the last bell and the first bell! Here at Frame Warehouse, we have a few ideas to keep you basking in the glow of summer memories!

First, curate moments. You know, the ones where the first barbeque of the season left everyone a little messy or the time the water balloon toss became a neighborhood event? What about the first time your child went down the waterslide or you traveled to some exotic land? Whatever the moment, save it for savoring.

Next, once you have identified your moments, print them out in black and white. Black and white photos evoke nostalgia, wistfulness, and emotion. They also happen to look great when hung next to one another!

Lastly, frame these beauties to last a lifetime. Preserve the moments in minimalist or floating frames so that the focal point is the memory. Create a collection of 4, 6, or 9 for maximum visual impact. An up and coming trend is chrome frames which are striking when paired with black and white photography.

Regardless of the images you choose, you can count on Frame Warehouse to help you every step of the way! Whether you need help choosing just the right photo or selecting the perfect frame and glass to preserve it behind, we are here to help you pick just the thing!

Visit us at www.framewarehouse.net or drop by one of our 12 locations for expert help today!

Closet Purge & Things To Frame

Closet Purge and What To Frame | Frame Warehouse | Charlotte NC

With spring cleaning comes the question as old as the tradition itself: What should you treasure and what should you toss? In some cases, discarding an old keepsake stuffed in the back of a closet feels akin to betrayal. It’s hard let go. Subsequently, a good cleaning is not as thorough as you had hoped. However, framing provides a way to hold onto some of those dusty treasures while simultaneously giving them a fresh purpose.

Some of your junk may be hidden art. If you have saved magazines for nostalgic reasons, for instance, take a fresh look at the covers. You may discover one that would look great in a frame. Another example: Every car compartment used to be stuffed with road maps. And National Geographic printed beautiful wall maps from across the globe. If you still have a few that evoke happy travel memories, imagine how they would look in your den.

A few more ideas to get your mind thinking creatively about framing possibilities:

  • Artistic book jackets
  • Songbook covers or song sheets
  • Vinyl records and album covers
  • Photocopied and enlarged stamps
  • Old handwritten letters
  • A child’s first grade progress report

Frame worthy pieces are not limited to flat objects. Consider any items stuck in the back of a drawer that, if framed, would add a nice touch to a den or bedroom.

  • Scout and hiking patches
  • Sea shells
  • Race t-shirts and medals
  • Buttons of every size and color
  • Vintage tableware like silver knives and forks

As you encounter items during your cleaning effort, look at them in a different light. Are they serving any purpose packed in a storage bin? See them as what they are: potential items brought back to life in an ideal frame.

Frame Warehouse has 12 locations in North and South Carolina with endless options for your framing needs.  You can shop us in-store or online.

 

Source:

https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/8-things-you-never-thought-to-frame-but-should-48463#shell-decor

What You Should Know About Hanging Picture Frames

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You’ve got a big, blank expanse of plastered wall and a picture frame that would look perfect there. But everyone knows what a hassle it is to hang art, so that poor wall might stay empty.

Fortunately, hanging picture frames is easier than it looks. Start by answering these basic questions.

What’s your creative strategy? Are you simply trying to find a place for a solo picture frame? Or do you have several decorative or thematic pieces you’d like to work into a grouping?

If hanging a single picture frame, its center should be positioned about 57 inches off the ground, on eye level with many. But if you’ve got a grouping in mind, get creative with formation. Use butcher paper or newspaper pages cut to the dimensions of your art and lay them on the floor or tape them to the wall until you like what you see.

How heavy is your artwork? Generally, you can get by with a nail or picture hanger if your art only weighs a few pounds. If it weights over 20 lbs, you’ll need a threaded anchor for extra wall grip.

What fasteners are you using. Most picture frames will come with a wire hanger attached horizontally to the back. Use picture hangers or a lone nail with this approach. Other frames might have saw tooth hangers for use with nails.

How are your math skills? Have a tape measure handy for finding the horizontal center point on your artwork to catch the nail or picture hanger in the right place. Or cheat with a tube of gel toothpaste. Dab a little on the back of your artwork where the wire will be extended or where you saw tooth hangers are affixed. Then press your picture frame against the wall and the smudges will indicate nail positions.

Keep in mind, it can be a perfectly legit design solution to prop your art against a wall or on a shelf and leave your wall unmarked.

Find the frame that will accent your blank wall perfectly here at Frame Warehouse.

Try Your Luck At DIY Framing

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Are you ready to explore the creative art of DIY framing? Planning picture frames for a space is not only fun; it’s also rewarding. Showcase your sketches, paintings, photos or portraits with the perfect frame. As St. Patty’s Day approaches, let’s explore some fun tips for DIY framing.

1. Work Backwards
Start with the end in mind. Think about where you’ll display the frame first. Get measurements to make sure reality matches what you see in your mind’s eye.
 
2. Be a Big Picture Thinker
Are you using several different-size or abnormal frames to create your grouping? Will the primary color in each frame somehow complement the others?

Consider the whole picture. Then plan your picture frames.
3. Find a Frame that Complements the Image
Just because you love the ornate curves of a Victorian-era frame doesn’t mean it will go with your photos of shamrocks or in your home. Consider how the frame complements the subject matter, colors and general feel of the image as well as the space in which you will hang it. 

4. Value Empty Space
An image going to the edge of the frame can make picture frames seem crowded and unprofessionally-framed. There’s just something about wide, open spaces that make everything better. Just ask the millions of tourists who visit the rolling hills of green in Northern Ireland each year. A mat helps you create that open space in a microcosm to place proper focus on your framed image.

5. Avoid the Sun
It may be cloudy today. But what about tomorrow? Several hours of direct sun will bleach even the most vibrant colors. Consider this before choosing a location for a treasured picture.

Perfect Picture Frames
Do you need to find those perfect frames, or are you looking for a professional who can help you create what you envision for your space? Shop our frames online or visit a Frame Warehouse near you.

What Is Canvas Stretching?

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At a glance, stretching a canvas may seem unnecessary to some. Can’t you simply lay canvas across some boards, staple it and put in a frame? But the art of stretching is precise and the benefits well worth undergoing this time-consuming task. Let’s explore the answer to this question and find out what canvas stretching is all about.

The Benefits of Canvas Stretching

The benefits of canvas stretching are many. Stretching helps you perfectly complement a space in your home by:
1. Stretching an image to precise dimensions (within reason)
2. Stretching it to a certain shape
3. Protecting the image from undue wear and aging
4. Giving the image a firm foundation on a quality wooden frame
5. Showcasing an image that can now last for generations
6. Achieving perfect and permanent image alignment (no slipping or wrinkling as the years go by)

What Is Canvas Stretching?

A canvas stretcher uses stretching tools to stretch an image over stretcher bars, which are the wooden pieces that make up the frame that supports the canvas from behind.

These tools include but aren’t limited to:
• Mallet
• Stretching pliers
• Industrial strength scissors
• Hammer
• Staple gun
• Staple remover
• Measuring tape

With these tools, a canvas stretching professional very gently yet firmly and uniformly pulls the canvas and perfectly aligns it with the stretcher bars. An improperly stretched canvas will appear misshapen and may have waves that will become more pronounced and unsightly with time. A properly stretched canvas is taut with perfectly folded and affixed corners. Stretching a canvas takes time and patience but the finished product is amazing.

Getting Your Canvas Stretched

Do you have a canvas image that you want to last for generations? Do you have precise specifications for the image so that you can showcase it in a space? Frame Warehouse can help you perfectly complement your space with a professionally stretched canvas. Contact us today or visit any of our 12 locations in North and South Carolina.

Mirrors as a Decorating Piece, What to Consider

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Mirrors have been a timeless decorating piece found in almost any area of a home. If placed properly within a room, a mirror can make rooms brighter and feel larger. Read some ideas and placement tips from Frame Warehouse before you purchase the perfect mirror.

Creating Light

We all know mirrors reflect, so placed properly they can help reflect light in the room. Place your mirror on an adjacent wall from windows or on the wall across from a window or windows. Make sure your mirror is not covered by large furniture or décor.

Balancing Size

When deciding on your mirror selection decide if the mirror will be a focal point or accent piece in the room. If the mirror is a focal point, the larger the better. When being used as a focal point a framed mirror also helps achieve this. If you are looking for an accent piece a smaller mirror in comparison to your largest wall hangings is recommended or the use of several small mirrors.

Mirrors can be used in almost every style of home and when placed correctly with appropriate sizing can help bring in light to a dark room and even bring the illusion of a much larger room.

Need assistance with finding the perfect mirror? Browse our selection of mirrors and frames at any of our 12 locations in North and South Carolina with Frame Warehouse. We like to think of mirrors as art and certainly believe they look great in the perfect frame.